Everyone needs a fantastic hot chocolate recipe up their sleeve at this time of year and the possibilities are endless. The simplest version just adds a dash of your favourite spirit or liqueur to the mug - we're partial to using a punchy whisky like Talisker, or something from Islay with a decent hit of sea spray and peat. Other recipes call for brandy, Baileys or even mezcal for a rich Mexican version.

This recipe, however, is inspired by the peppermint schnapps hot chocolate of the après-ski scene, but with homemade peppermint bourbon as an easy alternative and is guaranteed to warm you from the inside out whether you've been braving the slopes or just the High Street!